Warp beam lifting mechanism for looms



July 22, 1947.

C. R. KRONOFF WARP BEAM LIFTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 27 1946 INVENTOR GLARENGE R. KROIVOFF ATTORNEY y 22, 1947- c.R. KRONOFF 2,424,400

WARP BEAM LIFTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 27 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR CLARE/V05 R. KRONOFF a/MTM ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 15.947

WARP BEAM LIFTING MECHANISM FOR LOOBIS Clarence R. Kronoff, Worcester,Mass., assignmto Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Application July 27, 1946, SeriakNo.686,783

19 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in lifting mechanism for the warpbeams of looms, and, it is the general object of the invention toprovide simple and efiicient chain operated means to lift the beam andmove its gudgeons toward loom supported bearings.

Looms operate with a beam at the rear thereof on which the warp threadsare wound. When these beams are of relatively large diameter they attainconsiderable weig t and it is desirable to provide mechanical means bywhich the beam can be lifted into operating position on the loom. It isan important object of my present invention to provide chain operatedmeans for lifting the beam in cooperationwith sprocket wheels secured tothe beam.

In an application Serial No. 686,294 filed July 26, 1946, by Sepavichand myself there is set forth a letoff mechanism employing motor drivenchains to regulate the amount of feed of the warp. These chains meshwith sprocket wheels on the warp beam and are driven by a motor torotate the beam to deliver warp. It is another object of my presentinvention to utilize the motor which drives the letofi chains for thepurpose of raising the beam and thereby relieve the weaver of heavymanual labor incident to placing a full beam in the loom.

The aforesaid letoff chains engage the forward part of the beam sprocketwheels and must be taut for letting off purposes.- It is another objectof my invention to cause the letoff chains to automatically tightenthemselves as they complete the beam lifting operation. Loom supportedchains meshed with the beam sprocket wheels facilitate this automatictightening.

The chains of the letoli mechanism are normally slack except when thewarp beam is in operating position. During the preliminary stages of thelifting operation the sprocket wheels will engage slack parts of theletoff chains. It is another object of my present invention to providechain tightening means for increasing the wrap of the letoff chainsaround the sprocket wheels when the chains are slack to facilitateraising of the beam. The tightening means are preferably manuallyoperated so that the attendants will be able to control the motion ofthe beam.

It is another object of my invention to provide electric switch controlmeans for the motor located in a position readily accessible to at leastone of the attendants for the purpose of causing the motor to run bothreversely for lifting the beam and forwardly for slackening thesupporting chains, or lowering the beam should it by any circumstanceattain too high a position in the loom.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and.arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of myinvention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the rear part of the loom having myinvention applied thereto, parts being in section,

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detailed bottom plan on an enlarged scale looking in thedirection of arrow 3, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a detailed planyiew looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig.1, showing the manner of attaching the upper end of a holding or beamsupporting chain to the loom frame,

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of theinvention,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits used with myinvention, and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the mechanism indicating bothsides of the loom and showing the differential mechanism which may beused with the invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 8, I have shown a loom frame 10having a warp beam H which supplies warp W. Ordinarily the warp istrained over a whip roll l2 and then extends forwardly through variousweaving instrumentalities one of which is indicated at the harnessframes l3. Each side of the loom frame has extending rearwardlytherefrom a bearing I4 one of which is shown in Fig. 2. The lower fixedsocket 15 of each bearing opens upwardly and rearwardly, and a gudgeonsupport I6 on each bearing has an inclined surface extending downwardlyand rearwardly from the corresponding socket for engagement with theassociated beam gudgeon ll. Cap bearings l8 one of which is shown inFigs. 1 and 2 can be thrown upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1,when a beam is to be placed in the loom, but ordinarily they are closedaround the gudgeons.

The loom is provided at each side thereof with a system of guidesprocket wh'eels only one system of which is shown in detail in thedrawings. The system set forth in Figs. 1 and 2 includes an upperrearlifting sprocket wheel 20 rotatable on a stand 21 fixed to the loomframe, an upper forward sprocket wheel 22 also rotatable on stand 2i,and a lower or bottom sprocket wheel 23 rotatable on support 24. Thesesprocket wheels mesh with a chain 25 which is ordinarily tight when thebeam is in operating position. but will be slack when the beam is out ofthe loom. The chain has a front section 26 and a rear section 21 toengage a driven or beam sprocket wheel 28 secured to the beamconcentrically with gudgeon l1. Each side of the loom will have one ofthese chain and sprocket wheel systems.

The sprocket wheel and chain systems form part of the loom letofimechanism which is driven by 'a motor M. This motor is operativelyconnected to a speed reducing unit 38 which is operatively connected toa differential mechanism D shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8. Two shafts3 i, one for each system, are driven by mechanism D and are rotatable onthe loom frame. Each shaft 3| has secured thereto a pinion 32 whichmeshes with agear 33 secured to a front upper sprocket wheel 22. Theconnections between the motor and the chains 25 are such that when themotor is driven forwardly as set forth in the aforesaid application, dueto the increase in warp tension, the chains will travel in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby causingclockwise rotation of the warp beam to deliver warp for the weavingprocess. This is the normal operation of the motor and chains when theloom is weaving. but for the purposes of my present invention the motoris controlled so that it can be reversed for the purpose of raising therear chain sections 21.

The warp beam includes a barrel 35 to which are secured heads or flanges36 between which the warp W is wound. For convenient manipulation of thebeam a form of truck or dolly 48 is provided as indicated in Fig. 1. Theparticular form of the dolly forms no part of my present invention, butit may include front and back parallel members 4| to support flanges 36.and have side members 42 and be mounted on rollers 43.

Except as noted hereinafter the matter thus far described may be as setforth in the previously mentioned copending application. The motordrives the differential mechanism which in turn causes equal forces tobe exerted by shafts 3| on the chains 25.

In carrying my invention into efiect I provide support means for therear part of the beam which will cooperate with chain sections 21 tolift the beam. This support means effectively prevents free rotation ofthe warp beam by the chains 25 and in the present instance compriseschains 45 which, as shown in Fig. 4, terminate at their upper ends inhooks 46 connectable to small supports or stands 41 secured to the loomframe.

The lower end of each chain 45 may be.provided with some means forsecuring it to the corresponding sprocket wheel 28. As indicated in Fig.3 two of the chain links 58 and are bridged by a bolt 52 having a wingednut 53. The bolt passes through the holes usually provided for the crossbars of the chain, and when the wing nut is tightened the links 50 and5| are clamped against the sprocket wheel 28. I do not deem it essentialin all forms of my invention to use the structure shown in Fig. 3, sinceunder some conditions adequate support for the rear part of the beamwill be derived from the meshing of each chain 45 with the rear part ofits sprocket wheel 28.

Each bearing l4 has fixed thereto a stud 55 to receive a removable lever56. Each lever has a handle 51 on the upper end thereof and a shoe 58 onthe lower end thereof for engagement with the associated rear chainsection 21. The shoes are below the axis of the beam when the latter isin the position shown in Fig. 1. Both chains 45 and the levers 56 areremovable from the loom and can be moved from one loom to another by theattendants who mount the beams on the loom.

The motor M may be controlled by circuits shown diagrammatically in Fig.'7. The motor has an armature 60 and a field coil 6! and is supplied bydirect current from power lines 62 and 63. A gang switch GS controls theoperation of the motor and in the present instance includes upper andlower field coil blades 65 and 6B, respectively, and upper and lowerarmature blades 61 and 68. These blades are connected together by aninsulated cross bar 69 having a handle 10 by which all of the blades maybe manipulated, and the blades tend normally to assume the neutralposition shown in which they will be out of engagement with theirrespective contacts.

The switch GS affords means for driving the motor either forwardly orbackwardly, and when raised the following field coil circuit is closed:wires 62 and II. blade 65, contact 12, wire 73, field coil Si, wire I4,contact 15, blade 66 and wire 76 to the other power line 63. At the sametime the following armature circuit is closed: power line 62, wire H,blade 6i, contact 11, wire 18, armature 60, wire 19, contact 80, blade68 and wire 16 back to power line 63. When the blades are up currentflows to the right through both the field and the armature. and'it maybe assumed that this corresponds to forward running of the motor.

When handle 10 is depressed the blades engage the contacts on the underside thereof, con acts 82 and 83 causing current to flow through thefield coil in the same direction. but contacts 85 and 85 causing currentto flow through the armature in a reverse direction to reverse thedirection of the motor.

In the previously mentioned copending application the circuits are suchthat they are open when the loom is stopped, and the circuits shown inFig. 7 can therefore be used without conflicting with any of thecircuits which are in control of the motor M when it is used to operatethe letofi mechanism of the loom.

The switch GS may conveniently be located on some part of the loomaccessible to one or another of the attendants when the beam is beingplaced in the loom. For convenience I illustrate a switch box 90 mountedon one of the bearings I 4 in position where it can be controlled by thesame attendant who operates the adjacent lever 56.

When a beam is to be applied to the loom it 4 will be rolled to theposition shown in Fig. 1 by means of the dolly 4B and placed with itsgudgeon I! close to or in engagement with the inclined surfaces onsupports Hi. In this position the front part of the sprocket wheels 28will mesh with the slack rear chain sections 21. The chains 45 will thenbe hooked over their supports or stands 41 and if desired have theirlower ends secured to the corresponding sprocket wheels 28 after beingwrapped around the rear parts of the latter.

There will ordinarily be two attendants for handling the beam, and eachattendant will then move his lever 56 to effect engagement of the lowerpart of the adjacent slack chain section 21 with the teeth of thesprocket wheel 28 adjacent thereto. When driving connection has thusbeen blished bet een the chains 25 and the sprocket wheels 28 one of theattendants will depress the switch handle to effect reverse motion ofthe motor M and the latter, acting through the speed reducer 30 and thedifferential D and shafts 3|. will cause a clockwise movement of thechains 25 as viewed in Fig. 1. As the rear chain sections 21 rise theywill lift the beam and its gudgeons I! will move along supports I 6toward the sockets l5, see Fig. 5. It will be noted that the upper partsof chain sections '21 and the chains 45 are forward of the axis of thesockets l5, and it is for this reason that the beam tends to moveforwardly as it rises so that the gudgeons eventually enter the socketsl5, as shown in Fig. 6.

The differential mechanism insures the delivery of equal forces to eachside of the beam and the gudgeons will enter their sockets atapproximately the same time. If for any reason one gudgeon should enterits socket ahead of the other its socket will resist further upwardmovement and the differential will continue to exert a lifting force onthe other gudgeon until the latter has entered its socket.

When both gudgeons are in their sockets the switch GS will be releasedand will return to its normal mid or neutral position in which it is outof engagement with all of its contacts and both the armature and thefield coil will be dead. Under these conditions it may be that thechains 45 will be held tightly, but a slight forward movement of themotor effected by raising the handle 10 for a brief interval of timewill cause counterclockwise movement of the chains 25 which will slackenthe chains 45 and the latter can be removed. This last operation maytake place either before or after the cap bearings l8 have been securedin their normal positions.

The attendants will ordinarily need to exert only a slight force on thelevers 56 to insure proper meshing of the chain sections 21 with thesprocket wheels 28, and the beam by its weight will overcome this slightforce and will rock the levers in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 1 against the hands of the attendants as the chains 25tighten.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple means bywhich a. warp beam can be applied to a loom by means including chains.These chains may conveniently be parts of the loom letoff mechanism,although it is evident that so far as certain features of my inventionare concerned the chains 25 need not necessarily be parts of a letoffmechanism. It will also be seen that the rear parts of the sprocketwheels 28 are held against downward motion during the beam liftingoperation, the means for accomplishing this result as set forthhereinbefore being the chains 45, but I do not wish necessarily to belimited in all applications of my invention to the use of these chains.Both the chains 45 and the levers 5B are removable and can be moved fromloom to loom, the only parts permanently added to the loom for the useof the invention beingthe supports 41 and the studs 55. Furthermore, theupper ends of the chains 45 and chain sections 21 are forward of theaxis of the bearing sockets l5 and for this reason the gudgeons I I tendto move forwardly as they slide up the inclined guiding surfaces l6 ofthe bearings 14. The movement of thegudgeons into their sockets istherefore accomplished automatically by power derived from the motor M.The levers 56 are useful in most applications wherein the rear chainsections 21 might tend to become disengaged with the front parts of thesprocket wheels 28 during the beginning of the warp lifting operation,but I am not necessarily limited in the use of my in-- vention to theselevers 56, since a slight change in the position of the bottom sprocketwheels 23 rearwardly fromthe position shown in Fig. 1 would suflice toinsure adequate mesh between the sprocket wheels '28 and the slack rearchain section 21. Also, the gang switch GS is located in a positionreadily accessible to at least one of th attendants and can be utilizednot only to effect reverse motion of the motor necessary to lift thebeam, but also forward movement of the motor to slacken the chains 45,or if need be to lower the beam should its gudgeons by any circumstancehave moved to a position above the sockets l5. Furthermore, the letoffchains automatically tighten themselves at the end of the beam liftingoperation in readiness for operation of the letoff mechanism.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes andmodifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wishto be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loomhaving a bearing toreceive a guclgeon on the beam, a guide extending below the bearing asprocket wheel on the beam, a sprocket chain movably mounted on the loomengaging the sprocket wheel on one side of the axis thereof, and meanssupporting the beam on the other side of saidaxis and cooperating withthe chain when that part of the latter meshed with the sprocket wheel israisedto lift the beam and move the gudgeon along said guide toward saidbearing.

2. In lifting mechanism for a warp beam having a gudgeon to be receivedby a bearing on a loom, a guide for the gudgeon extending downwardly andrearwardly from the bearing, a lifting chain movably mounted on theloom, a sprocket wheel on the beam having the front part thereof meshingwith said lifting chain, means supporting the rear part of the sprocketwheel in such manner that the beam tends to move forwardly to keep thegudgeon against the guide as the beam rises, and means operativelyconnected to the chain to raise that part of the latter meshed with thesprocket wheel and cause said chain and supporting means to cooperate tomove th odgeon along said guide toward said bearing,

3. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom having a bearing toreceive a warp beam gudgeon, sprocket Wheels rotatably mounted on theloom a chain meshing with said sprocket wheels, a beam sprocket wheel onthe warp beam meshing with said chain forward of the axis of the beam,support means secured to the loom forward of the axis of the beam andoperatively con nected to the latter behind said axis, and means toraise that; part of the chain meshed with said beam sprocket wheel tocause the latter to cooperate with said supporting means to lift thebeam and move the gudgeon forwardly toward said bearing.

4. In lifting mechanism for a warp beam having a gudgeon below andrearward of a bearing on a loom, a plurality of loom supporting sprocketwheels, a lifting chain meshing with said sprocket wheels; a beamsprocket wheel on the beam meshing with said chain in front of the axisof the beam, a supporting chain having one end thereof secured to theloom forward of the axis of the beam and meshing with the beam sprocketwheel rearwardly of said axis, and means to move said 7 lifting chain insuch direction that said chains cooperate to lift the beam and move thegudgeon forwardly toward the bearing.

5. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom having a bearing toreceive a gudgeon on the beam, upper and lower guide sprocket wheelsrotatable on the loom, one above and the other below the axis of thebeam, a chain having a rear section meshing with said sprocket wheels, abeam sprocket wheel on the beam having the forward part thereof meshingwith said section of the chain between said upper and lower guidesprocket wheels, means supporting the rear part of the beam, and meansto turn the upper sprocket wheel to raise said section of the chain tolift the beam and move the gudgeon toward the bearing.

6. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom having a bearing forthe beam gudgeon and a gudgeon guide inclined downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the bearing, a sprocket wheel on the beam, two chains meshing withsaid sprocket wheel, one chain on one side of the axis of the sprocketwheel and the other chain on the other side of the axis of the sprocketwheel, means holding the upper end of one of said chains to the loomabove and forwardly of the axis of the bearing when the gudgeon engagessaid guide below the bearing, and means locating the upper end of theother chain above and forward of said bearing axis and effective toraise said other chain and cause said chains to cooperate to lift thebeam and cause the gudgeon to move along said guide to said bearing,

'7. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom having a bearing toreceive a gudgeon on the beam, a loom supported sprocket wheel, a chainmeshing with said wheel and having a normally slack rear sectiondepending from the sprocket wheel, a beam sprocket wheel on the warpbeam meshing with said rear section of the chain when the latter isslack, means engaging said rear section of the chain causing the latterto wrap around a forward part of the beam sprocket wheel, meanssupporting the rear part of the beam, and means to raise said chainsection to lift the forward part of the beam sprocket wheel to raise thebeam and move the gudgeon toward th bearing.

8. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom having a bearing toreceive a gudgeon on the beam, a plurality of loom supported sprocketwheels, a chain meshin with said wheels having a rear slack section, abeamsprocket wheel on the warp beam behind and meshing with said sectionof the chain, a shoe engaging part of said section .of the chainforwardly of and below the axis of the beam sprocket wheel and holdingsaid part of said section against the beam sprocket wheel, meanssupporting the rear part of the beam, and means to raise said section ofthe chain to lift the beam and move the gudgeon toward the bearing.

9. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom having a bearing toreceive a gudgeon on the beam, a plurality of loom supported sprocketwheels, a chain meshing with said wheels and having a rear slacksection, a beam sprocket wheel on the warp beam meshing with saidsection of the chain, manually operated means efi'ective to hold part ofsaid slack section of the chain below the axis of the beam sprocketwheel against the latter, means supporting the beam at a point behindthe axis thereof, and means to lift said section of the chain to raisethe beam and move the gudgeon toward the bearing.

10. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom, a sprocket wheelon the beam, 9. chain movably mounted on the loom and meshing with thesprocket wheel on one side of the axis thereof, means supporting thebeam on the other side of said axis, an electric motor operativelyconnected to the chain, and electric circuit means effective to causethe motor to raise that part of the chain meshing with the sprocketwheel and cause said chain to cooperate with said supporting means tolift the beam.

11. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom, a sprocket wheelon the beam, a chain movably mounted on the loom and having a sectionmeshing with the sprocket wheel on one side of the axis thereof, anelectric motor operatively connected to the chain, means supporting thebeam on the other side of said axis, and electric circuit meanscontrolling the motor and effective to cause the latter either to raisesaid section of the chain to lift the beam or cause the motor to lowersaid section of the chain to lower the beam.

12. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam of a loom, a sprocket wheelon the beam, a chain movably mounted on the loom and having a sectionmeshing with the sprocket wheel on one side of the axis thereof, meanssupporting the beam on the other side of said axis, an electric motoroperatively connected to the chain, reversible switch means, andelectric circuit means including the motor and switch means andeffective when the latter is in one position to cause said motor toraise said section of the chain and effective when the switch means isin another position to cause the motor to lower said section of thechain.

. 13. In lifting mechanism for the warp beam oi. a loom, a sprocketwheel on the beam, a chain movably mounted on the loom and having asection meshing with the sprocket wheel on one side of the axis thereof,means supporting the beam on the other side of said axis, manual meansto hold part of said section of the chain below said axis against thesprocket wheel, an electric motor operatively connected to the chain,manually controlled electric switch means adjacent said manual means,and electric circuit means including said motor and switch meanseffective to cause said motor to raise said section of the chain whilesaid section is held against said sprocket wheel by said manual means.

14. In a loom having a warp beam and letoif mechanism including a chainmovably mounted on the loom, a sprocket wheel secured to the beamconcentrically of the' axis thereof and meshing with the chain on oneside of said axis, means on the loom supporting the beam on the otherside of said axis, and driving means for the chain forming part of theletoii mechanism and effective to raise that part of the chain meshedwith the sprocket wheel to eifect bodily movement of the beam upwardlywith respect to the loom.

15. In a loom having a letofi mechanism employing a sprocket chain whichmust be tight for normal letting-off operations with respect to a warpbeam when a gudgeon on the latter is in a loom bearing, a sprocket wheelon the warp beam having a part of one side of the axis thereof meshedwith the chain when the gudgeon is below the bearing and the chain isslack, means supporting the beam on the other side of said axis, andmeans to raise that part of the chain meshed with the sprocket wheelwhen the chain is slack to effect movement of the gudgeon into thebearing to eifect tightening of the chain.

16. In a loom having a letofi mechanism employing a sprocket chain whichmust be tight for normal letting-off operations with respect to a warpbeam when a gudgeon on the latter is in a loom bearing, a sprocket wheelon the warp beam having a part of one side of the axis thereof meshedwith the ietoff chain when the gudgeon is below the bearing and thechain is slack, a supporting chain having the upper end thereof attachedto the loom and having the lower part thereof meshed with the beamsprocket wheel on the other side of said axis, and means to raise thatpart of the letofi chain meshed with the sprocket wheel when the letofichain is slack to effect movement of the gudgeon into the bearing toeffect tightening of the letofl chain.

17. In a loom having a letofi mechanism employing a sprocket chain whichmust be tight for normal ietofi operations with respect to a warp beamwhen a gudgeon n the latter is in a loom bearing, a gudgeon guide on theloom depending from the bearing forward of the gudgeon, a sprocket wheelon the warp beam having a part of one side of the axis thereof meshedwith the letofl' chain when the gudgeon is below the bearing and againstsaid guide and the chain is slack, a supporting chain having the upperend thereof connected to the loom forward of said axis and having thelower part thereof meshed with part of the beam sprocket on the otherside of said axis, and means to raise that part of the ietoff chainmeshed with the sprocket wheel when the letoff chain is slack to effectmovement of the gudgeon into the bearing to effect tightening of theletofl chain.

18. In a loom having a ietoff mechanism employing a sprocket chain whichmust be tight 10 for normal letting off operations with respect to awarp beam when the gudgeon on the latter is in a loom bearing, a gudgeonguide in front of the gudgeon extending downwardly and rearwardly fromthe bearing, a, sprocket wheel on the warp beam having a part of oneside of the axis thereof meshed with the letofi chain when the gudgeonis below the bearing and in engagement with the guide and the chain isslack, supporting means attached operatively to the beam on the otherside of said axis and attached to the loom at a point above andforwardly of said axis, and means to raise that part of the 'letofl.chain meshed with the sprocket wheel when the letoff chain is slack toeifect movement of the gudgeon upwardly along said guide into thebearing to effect tightening of the ietoff chain.

19. In a. loom having a letoff mechanism employing a sprocket chainhaving a vertically extending rear section which must be tight fornormal letting off operations with respect to a warp beam when a gudgeonon the latter is in a loom bearing, a gudgeon guide on the loomextending downwardly and rearwardly from the bearing, a sprocket wheelon the warp beam having a part on one side of the axis thereof meshedwith the letoff chain when the gudgeon is below the bearing and inengagement with the guide and said section of the chain is slack, theupper part of said chain section being above and forward of said axis, asupporting chain attached to the loom above and forwardly of said axisand having part thereof meshed with that side of the beam sprocket onthe other side of said axis, and means to raise said section of thechain when the latter is slack to effect movement of the gudgeon alongsaid guide into the bearing to effect tightening of said section.

CLARENCE R, KRONOFF.

